Alb Valley Route

35 KM   I   ALTITUDE 590 METRES  I   DURATION 3.30 HOURS   I  LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY  EASY

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

This leisurely route takes in towns, countryside and river landscapes in the most northerly part of the Black Forest Valley, with plenty of historical landmarks on the way, including Schloss Ettlingen (Ettlingen Palace), Kloster Frauenalb (Frauenalb Monastery) and Bad Herrenalb. Not forgetting the outstanding museums, such as the Fahrzeugmuseum (Vehicle Museum) and the Feierabendziegelmuseum (Decorative Tile Museum), and the delicious foodie treats on either side of the Alb River.

Starting point and how to get there

  • Starting/finishing point: Ettlingen
  • How to get there: A5 Frankfurt–Basel up to the Ettlingen junction, switching to the L561/Herrenalber Straße, signs: Ettlingen/Bad Herrenalb/Karlsruhe-Rüppurr; A8 Munich–Karlsruhe, continuing on the A5 at the Dreieck Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe Interchange) up to the Ettlingen junction, switching to the L561/Herrenalber Straße, signs: Ettlingen/Bad Herrenalb/Karlsruhe-Rüppurr
  • Public transport:
  • From Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof (Karlsruhe Main Train Station) Metropolitan Railway Line S1/S11 to Ettlingen, Erbprinz/Schloss Stop (for anyone wanting to explore the town), Albgaubad Stop (for anyone wanting to start cycling on the route right away)
  • Parking: Free P&R at the Ettlingen Albgaubad Metropolitan Railway Stop or pay to park at the signposted car parks in Ettlingen town centre

Things to see

  • Schloss (Castle) and Museum in Ettlingen Fahrzeugmuseum Marxzell (Marxzell Vehicle Museum)
  • Ehemaliges Kloster Frauenalb (Former Frauenalb Monastery)
  • Feierabendziegelmuseum (Decorative Tile Museum) & Kloster Bad Herrenalb (Bad Herrenalb Monastery)

 

Places to stop

  • Vogelbräu Ettlingen (microbrewery) and lots of other cafés and restaurants in the old town
  • Lindenbräu Waldbronn (microbrewery with charging points for electric bikes)
  • Imbiss Fischweier snack bar (S1 Stop: Fischweier) – Currywurst delights every day between 09:30 and 20:00
  • Marxzeller Mühle restaurant (S1 Stop: Marxzell)
  • Landgasthof König von Preussen guest house (S1 Stop: Schielberg)
  • Klosterscheuer restaurant in Bad Herrenalb and lots of other cafés and restaurants in the old town

Places to stay

  • Head to: www.albtal-tourismus.de/gastgeber
  • Hotels/guest houses across all categories in Ettlingen
  • Directly on the route: Marxzeller Mühle, König von Preußen
  • Hotels/guest houses across all categories in Bad Herrenalb

PEAT BOGS :

Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy this route since Ettlingen alone is an idyllic location boasting a castle, narrow lanes, half-timbered houses and remains of the town wall remains. It makes for the perfect place to start this tour of urban, country and river landscapes. The guided historical tour of the town is a fantastic way to explore. The cycle route takes you along the Alb River (which gives the valley and this route its name) via Graf-Rhena-Weg (starting at the Albgaubad Swimming Pool in Ettlingen) and then through the picturesque Black Forest Valley to Bad Herrenalb. You will find yourself on a tarmac surface at some points and a gravel track at others, but either way the surface is suitable for trekking and electric bikes. Imbiss Fischweier is a must-visit snack bar for all you Currywurst fans out there. Connoisseurs swear by its blend of spices. Make sure you don’t miss out and stop by for a bite to eat as you start or finish the route. The intriguing Marxzeller Fahrzeugmuseum (Marxzell Vehicle Museum) is also well worth a visit. This private collection features incredible exhibits from the world of mobility through the ages, including a Mercedes Adenauer and the longest production motorbike in the world. From there, it is on to the main attraction of the Alb Valley, the former Kloster Frauenalb (Frauenalb Monastery). The Benedictine Monastery determined everything that went on in Marxzell for over 600 years. And now it is open to the public, forming a stunning backdrop for events such as “Kultur im Kloster” (Culture in the Cloister) and open days. The journey to Bad Herrenalb continues on Graf-Rhena-Weg. The minigolf facility at Schweizerwiese Park is the perfect place to stop for a break that the whole family will enjoy. If you are keen to explore the history of the Alb Valley in a little more depth, the “Historischer Weg” (History Path) leads the way to the former Klosteranlage Bad Herrenalb (Bad Herrenalb Monastery). The pine tree, which is more than 200 years old, is a spectacular sight indeed, miraculously growing out of the monastery walls without any contact with the earth. There are plenty of cafés and restaurants to take your pick from so that you are properly fuelled up before heading off again. Take the tarmac Alb-Radweg (Alb Cycle Path) to the right of the Alb River when you are ready to go back to Ettlingen..

 

CONTACT

Tourismusgemeinschaft Albtal Plus e.V.
Kronenstraße 26, 76275 Ettlingen
Telefon: +49 (0) 7243 / 101-8234
info (at) albtal-tourismus.de
www.albtal-tourismus.de

Copyright photo on this page: Albtal-Plus-eV Fotograf Steffen Schmid

Copyright map: map.solutions GmbH